TidBit Tuesday

Food has always been a major tradition maker in my family. As a small child I remember specific events, holidays, and occasion marked with certain food items. My mom is an incredible cook and baker! Here are three of the food traditions that she had, and that I have continued to carry over into my own family to some degree! Thanks Mom - you're the best!

#1: General Conference = Cinnamon Rolls: Nothing says General Conference (a worldwide broadcast from the LDS church leaders to the entire membership of the church - we get a chance to hear from the prophet and apostles and recieve guidance on issues that affect us today) more than yummy, hot sticky cinnamon rolls dripping with frosting and a cold glass of milk. EVERY General Conference we eat cinnamon and Shawn doesn't mind a bit that I feel that this is a tradition worth continuing! So if you happen to be around our house this Saturday or Sunday, you'll be able to sample one these favorite treats. If not, here's the recipe:

Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls
2 Tblsp yeast
½ cup warm water
1 Tblsp sugar
Mix and let rise in a cup

¾ cup sugar
1-2 Tbsp salt
¼ cup butter
2 cups scalded milk
4 slightly beaten eggs
6 cups flour
Mix sugar, butter, milk, and salt. Add eggs to cool. After cooled add yeast mixture. Add flour and let rise for 1-2 hours. Roll dough out using flour generously, the dough will be very sticky. Melt ½ cube of butter and spread on dough. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top. Roll and slice. Dip rolls in ½ cube of butter and place on a cookie sheet. Let rise for ½ hour. Bake at 375 for 22 minutes.

#2: Scone Day = Scones of Course! Every Wednesday was my mom's day off from work and she would cook us lunch, which consisted of a main course and scones from her homemade bread dough on the side. This special day was one that I always loved as a child and one that grew in popularity, as we began bringing our friends over to eat lunch with us! By the time I was a junior in high school, my older brother and I had 30-40 people eating lunch with us every Wednesday! Seriously it is crazy now that I consider the number of people my mom graciously fed each Wednesday! I love my mom especially for this tradition - she always loved us and our friends and makes anyone who enters our home feel welcome. I don't have scones every Wednesday - to Shawn's dismay - but if I ever make bread, I will always set aside some dough and fry scones with it. As my boys get to be school age I hope to be able to carry this tradition on to them. Here's the bread dough recipe (which by the way makes INCREDIBLE! bread) and you just take the dough and fry it in vegetable oil until cooked through and serve hot, with honey butter!!

Mom’s Homemade Bread
½ cup warm water
2 Tblsp yeast
1 Tblsp sugar
Mix ingredients together, let yeast react. Mix the following ingredients in a large bowl.

¾ cup sugar
¾ cup oil
2 Tblsp salt
5 cups hot water
8 cups flour

Mix and add yeast mixture. Add 4-6 more cups of flour. Work dough until no longer sticks to hands. Grease bowl with oil, let dough rise for 1 hour. Makes 5-6 loaves (raise in loaf pans for an additional 30 minutes) Cook at 350 for 30 minutes. Coat top with butter when done.

#3: Leg of Lamb = Easter: Most people might have ham for Easter, not us! My mom's father was a sheep rancher and therefore, we grew up eating lamb (and in some cases raising the lambs and then eating them at adulthood! Sick, I know!) Leg of lamb, lamb chops, lamb stew... you get the idea. Lamb is definetly a specific tasting meat and when cooked well, is DELICIOUS!! My favorite gravy comes from a good lamb roast - and for my entire life I've had lamb on Easter in some shape or form. Lamb is also pretty expensive, so I choose to go for the chops right now which are most cost effective for our little family. But nothing beats a good leg of lamb! Here's the recipe and if you feeling a need to branch out and explore this would be a good try!

Leg of Lamb

Coat roast with salt, pepper, and heavy garlic. Cook at 325 for 3 hours, use drippings for gravy.

What are some of your food traditions? I'd love to hear!